Definition
Cross-examination is a timed segment, used in policy debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate among other formats, where one debater questions an opposing debater directly, and the opponent must answer in real time. It differs from a scripted speech because both sides are reacting live: the questioner is trying to clarify a weak point or box the opponent into an unfavorable admission, and the answerer is trying to protect their case without looking evasive.
Example
A debater asks: "Your plan's funding comes from cutting program X. Does program X serve the same population your plan claims to help?" A strong, direct answer either concedes and reframes, or explains why the populations do not actually overlap. A weak answer dodges the question entirely, which the questioner can point out in a later speech.
Common mistakes
New debaters often ask broad, open-ended questions that let the opponent explain their way out of a weak point. A tighter question invites a short, specific answer that is harder to escape. It is also a mistake to try to win the round during cross-examination itself: its real value is setting up material you will use in a later speech, not scoring a single clever exchange.